Dispenser for roll material strip without winding core comprising an improved supporting spindle

ABSTRACT

The invention proposes a dispenser for a web wound into a coreless roll, the roll ( 11 ) being mounted on an irrotational, substantially cylindrical support spindle ( 14 ), the web in this dispenser being dispensed by rotationally unwinding the roll ( 11 ) around the axis (A 1 ) of the support spindle ( 14 ), characterized in that the support spindle ( 14 ) includes means ( 46, 48, 50, 52 ) axially locking the roll ( 11 ) and in that the spindle ( 14 ) bears means ( 36, 50, 52 ) for decelerating the roll ( 11 ) being unwound.

The invention relates to a dispenser of a wound web in the form of acoreless roll and including an improved spindle.

More specifically, the invention concerns a paper dispenser for publicuse, in particular, wherein the dispenser assumes the form of a housingand includes at least one roll mounted on a support spindle. The freeend of a paper web in a roll passes through a dispensing opening and theuser pulling on the free web end unwinds the roll by rotating the rollabout the fixed axis of the support spindle.

More particularly, the invention relates to paper dispensers housingcoreless rolls, that is rolls of which the center of the wound paper tobe dispensed makes direct contact with the support spindle.

Such coreless rolls allow more compact windings and consequently alarger length of paper at a given radial roll bulk.

As a result, the coreless rolls must be operated in special dispensers.

When the user wants to unwind a specific length of paper, he willthereby set the roll in motion. If the traction exerted on the paper iscomparatively vigorous, a certain speed of rotation is imparted to theroll about the support spindle and, short of further design features,the kinetic energy stored in the roll may cause excessive unwinding, tothe point of self-rotation, beyond the paper length wanted by the user.

Accordingly, the objective of the invention is to propose simple andeconomic means allowing efficient slowing down of the roll to avert suchexcessive unwinding, however, the decelerating means must not undulyoppose the deliberate unwinding by the user and must not degrade thepaper roll. The opposing force must be less than the force rupturing thepre-cut sheet sizes.

Moreover, it was found necessary to determine with some accuracy and,foremost, to keep the axial roll position in the unwinding position.When the user unwinds the paper, his traction is rarely perfectlyperpendicular to the roll's axis of rotation and thereby the roll tendsto be axially offset on its support spindle, sometimes so much that itis axially offset from the housing opening through which the paper ismeant to pass.

This problem assumes special significance when the dispenser is designedto receive a second roll on the same support spindle, namely in thestored position. When, in such a dispenser, the roll in the unwindingposition has been exhausted, no more needs to be done than to axiallyshift the second roll from the stored position to the unwindingposition, such a displacement being possible because the rolls arecoreless.

Therefore, another object of the invention proposes means to axiallyhold the roll in its unwinding position.

For that purpose, the invention proposes a dispenser described abovewhich is characterized in that the support spindle includes meansaxially locking the roll and in that the spindle bears means assuringroll deceleration during unwinding.

In other features of the invention:

the roll is axially forced by the braking means against a transverse,axially locking surface,

the braking means include a flat press bar driven by elastic meansagainst a transverse side of the roll,

the flat press bar runs radially to the spindle in such a manner thatthe bar cooperates with the transverse roll side over the full length ofa roll radius,

the flat press bar cooperates with the transverse roll side over thefull length of a roll diameter,

the spindle is irrotational about its axis during roll unwinding and theflat press bar is irrotational relative to the spindle,

the flat press bar is in the form of a plate elongated in the directionof a roll diameter and is slidable along the support spindle, and theplate includes at each of its ends an axially running guide projectionreceived in an aperture in a stationary guard plate running transverselyin the dispenser,

the guard plate is rigidly affixed to the support spindle,

a spring is inserted between the guard plate and the decelerating flatbar to axially drive the latter against the roll,

the spindle is irrotational about its axis when the roll is beingunwound and the spindle is fitted with at least one radial boss housedinside the roll and rubbing against the roll to decelerate the rollduring unwinding,

the radial boss runs axially over a length less than the axial rolldimension,

the radial boss is configured axially substantially at the middle of theroll when the same is in its unwinding position on the support spindle,

the change in cross-section of the support spindle caused by the radialboss is continuous,

the radial boss runs around the axis at an angle less than 180°,

the radial boss is configured at an angle on the support spindle in adirection substantially opposite the direction in which the web is beingdispensed,

the axially locking roll means include a frustoconical boss having thesame axis as the support spindle, the base of the boss forming atransverse surface to axially lock the roll in one direction, and theconical surface of the boss facilitating roll installation by axiallysliding the roll onto the spindle toward the roll's unwinding position,

the braking means axially pressing the roll against the base of thefrustoconical boss,

the support spindle includes a T-shaped end to engage a correspondingdispenser channel to detachably affix the spindle in the dispenser andto lock the spindle so as to be irrotational about its axis,

the T-shaped end of the support spindle is a separate part mounted onthe spindle, and

the means locking the roll axially includes a transverse washerconfigured between the T-shaped end and the spindle.

Other features and advantages of the invention are elucidated in thecomprehensive following description and in relation to the attacheddrawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective of an illustrative first embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial top view illustrating the dispenser support spindleof a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial view in section along line 3—3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the support spindle along line 4—4 of FIG.3; and

FIG. 5 is a partial axial section illustrating a second embodiment ofthe invention; and

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are, respectively, perspective axial-sectional and sideviews of a support spindle of a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the case 12 of a paper roll dispenser 10.

The dispenser receives coreless paper rolls 11S, 11D. The dispenser 10is used, for example, publicly and is able to receive simultaneously twopaper rolls, one of them, namely 1lD, being in the unwinding positionready to serve the user and the other, namely 11S, being kept stored andwaiting.

In this state, the two rolls are mounted side by side, inside the case12 of the dispenser 10, on a substantially straight and cylindricalsupport spindle having a horizontal axis A1. The roll storage andunwinding positions 11S and 11D, respectively, are shown in broken linesin FIG. 2.

A cover, not shown, serves to close an upper opening in the case 12,through which the rolls 11 are put in place in the dispenser, to form asubstantially closed housing.

The dispenser 10 includes a feed slot 16 in the case 12 and allows thefree end (not shown) of a roll 11D in the unwinding position to beaccessed by a user so he can unwind his desired amount of paper.

In this case, the feed slot 16 is configured at the bottom on the leftof the dispenser as seen in the Figures, in such a manner that theright-hand part of the dispenser 10 receives the reserve roll 11S in thestored position.

When the roll in the unwinding position has been exhausted, a mechanism,not shown, allows axial moving of the reserve roll along the supportspindle 14 into the unwinding position 11D without the need to open thecover. The shifting of the reserve roll is unhampered by any core of theexhausted roll that would prevent the reserve roll from being moved intothe unwinding position.

The support spindle 14 can be detachably mounted in the case 12 of thedispenser 10.

The case 12 includes a plane, vertical rear side 18 to allow mounting ofthe case, for example, to a building wall. The support spindle 14 isconfigured essentially at the center of the dispenser 10 and is firmlyjoined by its two ends to the two vertical side walls 20 of the case 12.The spindle is detachable or not, pivoting or not about one of its ends.

For that purpose, the spindle 14 includes at a first end 22 acylindrical segment 24 having a transverse, substantially horizontalaxis A2 perpendicular to the axis A1 of the spindle 14, so that, in topview, the end 22 of the spindle 14 assumes a T-shape.

On their inside faces 26, the side walls 20 of the dispenser 10 includea channel 28 having a substantially U-shaped cross section in avertical, longitudinal plane, the U being open upward.

The vertical inner arm 30 of each of the two channels 28 includes anotch 32 having a dimension in the transverse direction substantiallyequal to the diameter of the support spindle 14.

The transverse cylindrical segment 24 of the T-shaped end 22 of thespindle 14 therefore can be elastically nested, from top toward bottom,as viewed in the Figures, into either of the channels 28, the spindle 14then being received in a corresponding notch 32.

The opposite end 34 of the support spindle 14 lacks a transversesegment. It is, however, received across the notch 32 of the oppositechannel and is maintained therein merely by its own weight plus that ofthe roll(s) when mounted on the spindle 14.

Such affixation mode of the spindle 14 is especially advantageousbecause it allows on one hand maintaining the spindle in place in asimple and effective manner and on the other hand preventing the spindle14 from pivoting about itself around its axis A1. Furthermore, byselecting a cylindrical transverse segment 24 and a correspondinglyshaped channel 28, the spindle 14 can hinge about the axis A2 of thetransverse segment 24 relative to the dispenser case 12.

In this manner, when the spindle 14 is mounted in the dispenser 10, thepaper rolls can be mounted on the spindle 14 by pivoting the spindleabout its T-shaped end 22 to insert the rolls by the opposite ends 34without being required to fully disassemble the spindle 14.

In any case, assembly and disassembly, also full replacement of thespindle 14, are very simply carried out, for example by inserting andremoving the transverse segment 24.

A first embodiment of the invention, the illustrative embodiment shownin FIGS. 1 through 4, includes a spindle 14 fitted with a radial boss 36which allows deceleration of the paper roll being unwound.

The radial boss 36 runs over a limited axial length which is less thanthe dimension of the paper roll in that direction, and is configuredsubstantially at the middle of the roll when this roll is in theunwinding position 11D on the spindle 14.

The embodiment shown in the Figures does not provide a boss in thespindle 14 that would correspond to the roll's stored position.

The central configuration of the boss 36 biases the roll being unwoundtowards centering of the roll, thereby averting excessive shift of theroll in the axial direction of the spindle 14. This design, therefore,assures controlled deceleration in the central position. The roll willnot rub along its lateral portions. In this manner, the roll staysopposite the dispensing slot 16.

In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the radialboss 36 is asymmetric to the axis A1. It runs only at an angle less than180° around the axis A1 and points upward so that, when seen intransverse section, the spindle 14 is substantially oblong, namelyelongated upward relative to the axis A1.

The radial boss 36 when seen in horizontal profile, as in FIG. 3, is aconvex surface 38 symmetrically merging on either side of the axialdirection into the cylindrical surface of the spindle 14 by means ofconcave surfaces 40. In this manner, the change in cross-section of thespindle 14 at the boss 36 is progressive and continuous.

In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the radialboss 36 points upward, on one hand taking into account the weight of therolls, namely from top to bottom, and on the other hand because the slot16 allows the user to unwind the paper roll by pulling on the papersubstantially vertically downward in the opposite direction of theradial boss 36.

The combination of these two actions causes sufficient friction betweenthe roller and the radial boss 36 to achieve frictional rolldeceleration.

The radial boss 36, lacking any angular surface, will not degrade thepaper roll.

In a second feature of the invention, the dispenser 10 is fitted withmeans to lock the roll axially when in its unwinding position.

For that purpose, the spindle 14 includes a frustoconical boss 48located substantially centrally at the spindle 14 between the storageand unwinding roll positions.

The base 50 of the frustoconical boss 48 subtends a transverse shouldersurface 50 preventing the roll from returning from its unwindingposition to its storage position and thereby constraining the roll toremain opposite the dispensing slot 16.

On the other hand, the conical surface of the boss 48 allows the roll toeasily pass from its storage position into its unwinding position.

To prevent the roll from moving in the other direction, the roll maysimply come to a stop against the channel 28 as in the embodiment shownin FIGS. 1 through 4.

In the first embodiment of the spindle 14, shown in FIGS. 1 through 4,this spindle is unitary.

On the other hand, as regards the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, theT-shaped end 22 of the spindle 14 is an assembled part 42.

The assembled T-shaped end 42 includes a stub 44 of axis A1 insertedinto a corresponding orifice 45 of the end of the spindle 14. The stub44 can be affixed to the orifice 45 by any suitable means, such asmechanical threading, bonding or force-fitting.

This second embodiment mode furthermore includes means to assureimproved lateral guidance, in the axial direction of the spindle 14, ofthe roll in the unwinding position.

For that purpose, a transverse washer 46 is mounted on the stub 44 ofthe assembled end 42 to fix in place the roll in a first direction, inparticular to prevent the roll from rubbing against the side wall 20 ofthe case 12 and against the channel 28.

FIGS. 6 through 8 show a third illustrative embodiment of a dispenser ofthe invention including improved roll deceleration means. Componentswhich are identical with or similar to those already discussed above aredenoted by the same reference numbers.

As in the previous two embodiments, the present support spindle 14includes a frustoconical boss 48 located substantially at the center ofthe spindle 14 to prevent a roll from moving in a first axial direction,that is from its unwinding to its storage position.

However, this third embodiment of the invention is distinct from theothers in that the roll deceleration means are simultaneously used tolock the roll with respect to the opposite direction.

In this design, the dispenser 10 includes a decelerating flat bar 52slidably mounted on the support spindle 14 on the side of the transverseroll face 54 opposite the transverse face 56 by means of which the roll11D cooperates with the base 50 of the frustoconical boss 48. Thedecelerating flat bar 52 is axially forced to come to rest against thecorresponding roll face 54 and is irrotational about the axis A1.

Accordingly, by rubbing against the face 54, the flat bar 52 assuresdeceleration of the roll and simultaneously forces the roll against thebase 50 of the frustoconical boss 48, thereby allowing very reliabledetermination of the roll's position in the dispenser 10.

In the shown embodiment, the flat bar 52 is a plate located in atransverse plane and radially elongated corresponding to a roll diameterof small width.

The flat bar 52 slides axially on the spindle 14 and is kept in fixedposition relative to the case 12 of the dispenser 10 by two projections58 each running axially from the radial ends of the flat bar 52 in thedirection parallel to the roll. Each projection 58 is received in anaxially sliding manner in a corresponding aperture 60 in a guard plate62 stationary in the dispenser 10.

The guard plate 62 shown in the Figures is substantially the same shapeas the decelerating flat bar 52 and can be made integral with thespindle 14 or in the form of an assembled part in the manner of thewasher 46 of the second above described embodiment.

A compression spring 64 is situated between the guard plate 60 and thedecelerating flat bar 52 in order to bias the latter to rest against thetransverse side face 64 of the roll 11D. The projections 58 includestops preventing the flat bar 52 from excessively deviating from theguard plate 62 when the unwinding position is without a roll.

Obviously other designs can be used to assure irrotationality of thedecelerating flat bar. Illustratively, the flat bar 52 can include afluted socket mounted in sliding manner on a fluted portion of thespindle 14.

The flat bar 52 offers the advantage that its surface in contact withthe roll is proportional to the roll diameter. As a result, thedecelerating force exerted by the flat bar decreases with roll diameter.The decrease in roll diameter entails a decrease in roll inertia andhence a decrease in the required decelerating force. In this manner, thedecelerating force applied by the flat bar 52 on the roll always matchesthe particular needs.

Lastly, as regards the third embodiment, the support spindle 14 hingeson the case 12 of the dispenser 10 by a clevis-shaped end of which eacharm is perforated by an orifice having an axis A2 to pass a hinge rodresting in the dispenser 10.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dispenser for a web wound into a coreless rollcomprising a substantially cylindrical, irrotational support spindle onwhich at least one of said coreless roll can be mounted and from oneroll of said at least one of said coreless roll the web is dispensed byunwinding the one roll by rotating the one roll about a longitudinalaxis of the support spindle, wherein the support spindle comprises meansfor axially locking the one roll in place on the support spindle, andmeans for decelerating the one roll when being unwound, wherein the oneroll is axially pressed by the means for decelerating against atransverse axially locking surface, wherein the means for deceleratingcomprise an irrotational, flat press bar axially slidable in thedispenser, wherein the flat press bar is driven by elastic means againsta transverse side of the roll, wherein the flat press bar is in the formof a plate elongated in a direction of a roll diameters and wherein theplate comprises at each end an axial guide projection which is receivedin an aperture in a stationary guard plate extending transversely insidethe dispenser.
 2. Dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flat pressbar extends radially from the support spindle in such a manner as tocooperate with the transverse roll side over a full length of a rollradius.
 3. Dispenser as claimed in claim 2 wherein the flat press barcooperates with the transverse roll side over the full length of a rolldiameter.
 4. Dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flat press baris irrotational relative to the spindle.
 5. Dispenser as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the guard plate is rigidly affixed to the supportspindle.
 6. Dispenser as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least one springis inserted between the guard plate and the flat press bar to drive saidflat press bar axially against the roll.
 7. Dispenser as claimed inclaim 1 wherein at least one spring is inserted between the guard plateand the flat press bar to drive said flat press bar axially against theroll.
 8. A dispenser for a web wound into a coreless roll comprising asubstantially cylindrical, irrotational support spindle on which atleast one of said coreless roll can be mounted and from one roll of saidat least one of said coreless roll the web is dispensed by unwinding theone roll by rotating the one roll about a longitudinal axis of thesupport spindle, wherein the support spindle comprises means for axiallylocking the one roll in place on the support spindle, and means fordecelerating the one roll when being unwound, wherein the means foraxially locking the one roll comprise a frustoconical boss having anaxis same as the support spindle, having a base providing a transversesurface which axially locks the one roll in one axial direction, andhaving a conical surface which facilitates shifting a roll in a storedposition on the support spindle by axially sliding on the spindle theroll in a stored position into an unwinding position, and wherein themeans for decelerating axially presses the one roll against the base ofthe frustoconical boss.